Universal’s Rom-Com ‘Bros’ Will Pre-Emptively Skip Middle East Release Due to Gay Sex Scenes (EXCLUSIVE)
Billy Eichner’s “Bros” will be making history upon its release as the first R-rated gay rom-com ever made by a major studio, but that historical record certainly won’t include the Middle East.
The Universal movie, which hits the U.S. box office on Sept. 30, is set to roll out across most international markets in October and November, but is pre-emptively skipping any kind of release in Middle East markets due to cultural and commercial reasons, sources close to the studio tell Variety.
It’s still unclear exactly what markets in the region will be affected, but it’s likely to include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Kuwait — all of which are notorious for censoring movies over even the slightest hint of LGBTQ themes or content.
And, as anyone who has seen “Bros” will tell you, the film — to its credit — is anything but subtle in depicting gay romance and sexuality, which has traditionally been censored or toned down by Hollywood.
